The parties in the case filed against UNP former General Secretary Tissa Attanayake yesterday informed the Colombo High Court that they had agreed to take shortcut measures to terminate the case proceedings initiated against Tissa Attanayake.
The Attorney General had filed indictments against Tissa Attanayake for allegedly displaying a fraudulent document to the media during the last Presidential Election for the purpose of affecting the result of then Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa appearing for Tissa Attanayake informed court that the defence had written to the Attorney General to consider the possibility of withdrawing the indictments filed against his client following the new developments.
Accordingly, the case was fixed for April 4 by High Court Judge Vikum Kaluarachchi and the parties were directed to report on the progress of the settlement on the next calling date. The Attorney General had filed indictments against UNP former General Secretary Tissa Attanayake for allegedly displaying a fraudulent document to the media during the last Presidential Election, seeking to incite racial or religious hatred among ethnic communities.
The accused had been charged under Section 3(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act No. 56 of 2007. This is the first time in Sri Lanka that an accused has been indicted in the High Court by the Attorney General over an offence that comes under the ICCPR Act.
The Attorney General alleged that Tissa Attanayake had publicly announced on December 22, 2014, that there was a secret agreement between the then Common Opposition Candidate Maithripala Sirisena and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Attorney General alleged Tissa Attanayake committed an offence under Section 3(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act No. 56 of 2007 by inciting racial or religious hatred among ethnic communities. Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris with Senior State Counsel Lakmini Girihagama appeared for the Attorney General. President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa with counsel Niroshan Siriwardena appeared for Tissa Attanayake.
Counsel Laksmi Jayawickrema appeared for President Maithripala Sirisena. President’s Counsel Nissanka Nanayakkara appeared for Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
******************************************
Tissa Attanayake’s case to be withdrawn (15:03)
The parties in the case filed against UNP former General Secretary Tissa Attanayake today informed Colombo High Court that they all agreed to take shortcuts measures to terminate case proceedings initiated against Tissa Attanayake.
The Attorney General had filed indictments against Tissa Attanayake for allegedly displaying a fraudulent document to the media during the last Presidential Election for the purpose of affecting the result of then Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
President's Counsel Kalinga Indatissa appearing for Tissa Attanayake informed that the defence has written to the Attorney General to consider the possibilities of withdrawing the indictments filed against his client following the new developments.
Accordingly, the case was fixed for April 4 by High Court Judge Vikum Kaluarachchi and parties were directed to report the progress of the settlement on next calling date.
Add new comment